Heat exchange assembly

ABSTRACT

A heat exchange assembly including a heat transfer coil having a relatively cold heat exchange medium supplied thereto. The coil includes tube sheets provided at each end thereof, each of the tube sheets having at least one tab extending outwardly from the surface. A relatively warm medium is passed in heat transfer relation with the cold heat exchange medium, the warm medium being cooled thereby. A condensate collection pan is disposed below and extends substantially coextensive with the lower surface of the heat transfer coil to permit condensate formed on the surface of the coil to drain into the collection pan. Slots are formed at either end of the collection pan for receiving the tabs extending from the tube sheet to secure the collection pan to the heat transfer coil.

United States Patent [1 1 Duell et al.

[4 1 May 13, 1975 HEAT EXCHANGE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Richard J.Duell, Syracuse; Fred V.

Honnold, ,lr., North Syracuse, both of N.Y.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1923 Raymond .,52/4734/1935 Gloekler....

2,175,396 10/1939 Hoffman... 1. 62/290 2,210,725 8/1940 Mac Master62/290 2,728,204 12/1955 Harbers l 62/288 3,200,464 8/1965 Cousins24/230 SC 3,251,110 5/1966 Hedu 24/230 SC 3,724,233 4/1973 Pugh et al..1 62/285 Boorman, Jr. 62/298 Misner 62/291 Primary Examiner-Albert W.Davis, Jr.

Assistant ExaminerSheld0n Richter Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ. RaymondCurtin; Barry E. Deutsch [57] ABSTRACT A heat exchange assemblyincluding a heat transfer coil having a relatively cold heat exchangemedium supplied thereto. The coil includes tube sheets provided at eachend thereof, each of the tube sheets having at least one tab extendingoutwardly from the surface. A relatively warm medium is passed in heattransfer relation with the cold heat exchange medium, the warm mediumbeing cooled thereby. A condensate collection pan is disposed below andextends substantially coextensive with the lower surface of the heattransfer coil to permit condensate formed on the surface of the coil todrain into the collection pan. Slots are formed at either end of thecollection pan for receiving the tabs extending from the tube sheet tosecure the collection pan to the heat transfer coil.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HEAT EXCHANGE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The instant invention relates to heat exchange assemblies andin particular, to those assemblies including condensate collection pansprovided to receive condensate formed on the surface of the heatexchange coil.

Heat exchange assemblies are employed in many applications wherein arelatively cold heat exchange medium is supplied to the coil of theassembly. Typical of such an application is the utilization of the heatexchange assembly as an evaporator of a refrigeration unit employed inan air conditioning system. A relatively warm medium is passed thereoverto be cooled by passing in heat transfer relation with the relativelycold medium passing through the coil. As a result of the cooling of thewarm medium, very often condensate is produced on the surface of theheat transfer coil.

Condensate draining from the surface of the coil must be collected toavoid pools of water from developing beneath the lower surface of theheat transfer coil. Typically, a condensate collection pan is disposedbelow and extends coextensive with the lower surface of the heattransfer coil.

It is the general practive to connect the condensate pan to the heattransfer coil via fasteners, such as screws or similar devices. Althoughfasteners such as screws satisfactorily attach the condensate collectionpan to the heat transfer coil, the use of such fasteners increases thecost of producing the heat exchange assembly. By eliminating the use ofconventional fasteners, substantial cost reductions may be obtained inmanufacturing the heat exchange assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention toprovide a heat exchange assembly including a condensate collection panthat may be readily attached to a heat transfer coil without theutilization of conventional fasteners.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means integrallyformed with the condensate collection pan for attaching the pan to theheat transfer coil of a heat exchange assembly.

These and other objects of the present invention are obtained byproviding a heat exchange assembly including a heat transfer coil. Arelatively cold heat exchange fluid is passed through the heat transfercoil. The coil includes at least one tab means extending from eachsurface defining the ends of the heat transfer coil. A relatively warmmedium is passed in heat transfer relation with the relatively cold heatexchange medium passing through the heat transfer coil, the warm mediumbeing cooled, thereby resulting in the formation of condensate on thesurface of the heat transfer coil. Means to collect the condensate isdisposed below and extends substantially coextensive with the lowersurface of the heat transfer coil to permit the condensate to drain intothe collection means. The collection means includes means defining aslot at each end thereof, each of the slot defining means receives a tabextending from the heat transfer coil to secure the collection means tothe coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partiallyin phantom, of

a heat exchange assembly including the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective, fragmentary view of a portion of theheat exchange assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the heatexchange assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective, fragmentary view of a furtherportion of the heat exchange assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of the portion ofthe heat exchange assembly shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,there is disclosed a heat exchange assembly including the inventionherein disclosed. In referring to the various figures of the drawing,like numerals shall refer to like parts.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, heat exchange assembly 10 includesside walls 11 and 13, connected together by a rear wall 12, the wallsforming the casing of the unit. Although not shown, it should beunderstood, that the casing generally includes a front wall or doorspaced apart from illustrated rear wall 12. The front wall is preferablyremovable to permit servicing of the assembly.

A heat exchange coil 15 is disposed within chamber 14 of the casing, thechamber being defined by the front, rear and side walls. The heatexchange coil includes a plurality of plate finned members 16 whichextend outwardly from tubes not shown. Each of the tubes terminate in areturn bend 17. Return bends 17 are suitably connected to the varioustubes so a continuous flow circuit is formed for the heat exchangemedium flowing in the tubes. A suitable heat exchange medium, forexample a refrigerant such as dichlorodifluoromethane, sold under thetrademark Freon-12 passes through the tubes of the heat exchange coil.Tube sheets 18 and 18' are preferably provided at either end of thecoil. Tube sheet 18' has tabs 19 and 20 integrally formed therewith andextending therefrom. Tabs 19 and 20 are received in slots formed inembossments 21 of rear wall 12 for securing heat exchange coil 15 withinchamber 14.

Side walls 11 and 13 and rear wall 12 define at their bottom an opening29 serving as an inlet. The walls further define at their top an opening30 serving as an outlet from the heat exchange assembly. The medium tobe cooled, for example air, is routed through opening 29 via a fan orother similar device (not shown) and passes in heat transfer relationwith the relatively cold medium flowing through the tubes of the heatexchange coil 15. The relatively cold medium absorbs heat from therelatively warm medium to cool the warm medium to a desired temperaturelevel. After it is cooled, the medium leaves the heat exchange assemblyvia outlet 30 and is delivered to the area or space requiring therelatively cold medium. It should be understood that the flow of themedium through the heat exchange assembly may be reversed so that outlet30 functions as an inlet and inlet 29 functions as an outlet. The heatexchange assembly heretofore discussed may be typically employed as anevaporator of arefrigeration unit employed in a residential airconditioning system,

When the heat exchange assembly is employed as an evaporator, the mediumto be cooled, is directed over the surface of the tubes having therelatively cold medium flowing therethrough. When the medium is air, itscapacity to hold moisture is reduced as its temperature is lowered;accordingly, when the air is cooled, condensate very often is formed onthe surface of fins 16.

To prevent the formation of undesirable puddles of water, a condensatepan 22 is provided to collect the condensate draining from the surfaceof fins 16. Condensate collection pan 22 is disposed below and extendssubstantially coextensive with the lower surface of heat exchange coil15.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an enlarged view of a portion ofcondensate collection pan 22. Pan 22 includes a suitable opening 31,which may be threaded in the manner shown, for connection to a pipe fordraining the condensate collected in the pan. Pan 22 further includes afirst portion 21 having a recessed section 32. A movable, upwardlyextending finger 24 is disposed in an opening 33 defined in recessedsection 32. As is clearly shown in FIG. 6, finger 24 includes cam orinclined surface 34 for a reason to be explained hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is disclosed an enlarged view of the lefthand portion of the heat exchange coil shown in FlG. l. The condensatecollection pan includes a second portion 26 having a recessed section 27defining a slot or opening 28.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 5, there are shown explodedperspective views of the: portions of the condensate pan illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4 respectively. In particular, tube sheet 18 includesanoutwardly extending tab member 23 integrally formed therewith. As shownin FIG. 5, tube sheet l8includes a tab member 27 integrally formedtherewith and extending outwardly therefrom.

When it is desired to secure condensatecollection pan 22 to heatexchange coil 15, tab 27 is inserted through slot 28 to secure the lefthand portion of the condensate pan to the portion of the heat exchangecoil disposedthereabove. Thereafter, tab member 23 of tube sheet 18 isinserted into opening 33 defined by recessed section 32. Tab member 23rides over cam 34 of finger 24 so that the top surface of the tab memberengages the bottom surface of the cam, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Tabmember 23 is thus firmly locked in opening 33 of section 32. Thecondensate collection pan is firmly secured to the heat exchange coilwithout requiring the utilization of conventional fasteners such asscrews. As is obvious, the elimination of such conventional fastenerswill decrease the cost of manufac turing a heat exchange assembly of thetype heretofore discussed. When it is desired to remove pan 22 from thecoil, finger 24 is slightly depressed to permit tab means 23 to rideover cam 34.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedand illustrated, the invention should not be limited thereto; but may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim: l. A heat exchange assembly comprising; V i

a. heat transfer means having a relatively cold heat exchange fluidpassing therethrough, said heat transfer means including at least onetab means ex-" tending from each surface defining the ends ofsaid heattransfer means; i b. means to pass a relatively warmme'dium in heattransfer relation with the relatively cold heat exchange medium passingthrough said heat transfer means, said warm medium being coole dthereby' said' resulting in the formation of condensateon heat transfermeans; and

one of said tab means extending fromsaid "heat transfer means to securesaid collection means to said heat transfer means.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim liwherein at least one of saidslot defining means includesa movable finger for engaging said tab meansreceivedin said slot.

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said movable fingerincludes a cam, the bottom surface of said cam engaging the top surfaceof said tab means,

4. A heat exchange assembly comprising:

a. heat transfer means including a plurality of tubes having arelatively cold heat exchange fluid passing therethrough, a plurality offins extendingoutwardly from the surface of said tubes to increase i theheat transfer surface, and a tube sheet provided at each end of saidheat transfer means, each of said tube sheets having at least one tabmeans'extendingoutwardly from the surface thereof;

b. means to pass a relatively warm mediumin heat transfer relation withthe relatively cold heat ex-. change medium passing through said heattransfer means. said warm medium being cooled thereby resulting in theformation of condensate on the sur I face of said fins; and I c. meansto collect said condensate, said collection means beingdisposed belowand extending-substantially coextensive with the bottom surface'of saidheat transfer means to permit said condensate to drain into saidcollection means, said collection means including means defining a slotat each end thereof, said slot defining means receiving said tab meansextending from said tube sheet to'secure said collection means to saidheat transfer means.

5. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of saidslot defining means includes a mo.vable finger for engaging said tabmeans received in said slot. 7 .v

6. An asembly in. accordance with claim2 wherein said movable fingerincludes a cam, the bottom surface of said cam engagingthe top surfaceof said tab means.

1. A heat exchange assembly comprising: a. heat transfer means having arelatively cold heat exchange fluid passing therethrough, said heattransfer means including at least one tab means extending from eachsurface defining the ends of said heat transfer means; b. means to passa relatively warm medium in heat transfer relation with the relativelycold heat exchange medium passing through said heat transfer means, saidwarm medium being cooled thereby resulting in the formation ofcondensate on said heat transfer means; and c. means to collect saidcondensate, said collection means being disposed below and extendingsubstantially coextensive with the lower surface of said heat transfermeans to permit said condensate to drain into said collection means,sAid collection means including means defining a slot at each endthereof, each of said slot defining means receiving one of said tabmeans extending from said heat transfer means to secure said collectionmeans to said heat transfer means.
 2. An assembly in accordance withclaim 1 wherein at least one of said slot defining means includes amovable finger for engaging said tab means received in said slot.
 3. Anassembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said movable finger includesa cam, the bottom surface of said cam engaging the top surface of saidtab means.
 4. A heat exchange assembly comprising: a. heat transfermeans including a plurality of tubes having a relatively cold heatexchange fluid passing therethrough, a plurality of fins extendingoutwardly from the surface of said tubes to increase the heat transfersurface, and a tube sheet provided at each end of said heat transfermeans, each of said tube sheets having at least one tab means extendingoutwardly from the surface thereof; b. means to pass a relatively warmmedium in heat transfer relation with the relatively cold heat exchangemedium passing through said heat transfer means, said warm medium beingcooled thereby resulting in the formation of condensate on the surfaceof said fins; and c. means to collect said condensate, said collectionmeans being disposed below and extending substantially coextensive withthe bottom surface of said heat transfer means to permit said condensateto drain into said collection means, said collection means includingmeans defining a slot at each end thereof, said slot defining meansreceiving said tab means extending from said tube sheet to secure saidcollection means to said heat transfer means.
 5. An assembly inaccordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said slot defining meansincludes a movable finger for engaging said tab means received in saidslot.
 6. An asembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said movablefinger includes a cam, the bottom surface of said cam engaging the topsurface of said tab means.